Week one of the Ashanti Region Senior Women’s T20 league saw 3 victories from 3 matches, but that of Nana Ponko Royal Batters Cricket Club against White Hawks was emphatic on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the KNUST, Obuasi campus Cricket Oval.
The matches that begun on Saturday, July 8, had Tutuka Queens and debutants Central Divas also suffering defeats to Wawasi Elites and Pomposo Royals.
Tutuka queens had two players retiring hurt and wrapped up the first innings in 7.5 overs with 42 runs for 8 wickets after they lost toss but had to bat first. Rashidatu Salia came tops in the bowling fugures, taking 3 wickets, giving away 8 runs in 2 overs for the Elites.
It took Wawasi Elites 4.2 overs, to score 43 runs for no wicket to win the game by 10 wickets; Captain Rashidatu Salia scored 16 off 15 balls, while partner and vice, Fati Grace scored 10 runs off 15 balls.
“I am ok we lost. I was expecting our our team but there was some reshuffling and those who could not make it affected us. I am ok because the new players have a good future.” Says Rozabel
“I am excited to win my first match of the league, it is a new team and most do not know hard ball, but I knew we will win, because of their effectiveness with soft ball. So, it was not difficult for me. We remained determined throughout the game and got the results we needed.” Rashidatu Salia.
In the second game, Pomposo Royals won toss and took Central Divas all out for 56 runs in 17.1 overs in the first innings. Rhyda Ofori Amanfo took 3 wickets of the 10, gave away 12 runs in 4 overs, while Grace Quaicoo and Dorcas Yeboah took 2 each, gave away 16 and 8 runs in 4 and 2.1 overs respectively.
Eva Afoakwah and Grace Quaicoo were sacrificed earlier in the second innings, but Rhyda stood her grounds and with 29 runs off 28 balls, finished the game with Mary Ndzibah (12 runs off 12 balls), scoring 57 runs for 2 wickets in 6.5 overs and winning by 8 wickets.
Rhyda Ofori Amanfo, Captain of Pomposo Royals was grateful to the entire team for the first victory.
“I am happy because we won and I am playing with new players. They did extremely well on the field and on the batting side, so kudos to the team. The hope is there to win the second title but we will showcase it on the field. The whole team planned to field first knowing it will favor us, that is why we opted to field first.”
Captain of the Divas, Miriam Eshun hopes to have a wow next game, admitting it was not easy for them.
“We tried our best but could not win, because it was not easy for us. But I am hoping our next game, we are going to train hard, so that it will be wow for us. I missed Komal and Gloria Anang, who were supposed to be with us but unfortunately were unavailable. We hope they will all come around, so we go in with a complete team.”
All did not go well for Ellen Otu Asante and her fellow White Hawks on day 2 of the T20 league, as an edge on her from Emmanuella Nyaaba, after coming on as the 3rd batter, dinted their hopes of surpassing the 128 runs for 6 wickets made by Royal Batters in the first innings.
Ellen scored a boundary 4 from her second ball and was in for a change, while the team stood at 54 runs in 11.3 overs. She however took 3 wickets, gave away 13 runs, in 4 overs in the first innings that saw Elizabeth Annor score 30 runs, off 57 balls, not out, while Cynthia Ankobea scored 29 runs, off 36 balls, not out for Royal Batters.
Emmanuella Nyaaba in the second innings took 4 wickets, gave away 11 runs in 4 overs, while Cynthia Ankobea and Grace Amankwa took 2 each, gave away 5 and 6 runs, in 4 and 3 overs accordingly. Royal Batters won the game by 39 runs.
Ellen, captain of White Hawks was full of praise of their performance, promising a better output in their next game.
“We lost the game in a good way, because 89runs is closer to the score of our opponents, so we did our best. What caused us was our wides and our bowlers were not consistent. As for the batters, I was not even expecting that performance from them. We will be practicing during the week, so we will be better in the other matches ahead. I was out via an edge and I could not bargain for it, although I felt there was no edge.”
Winning captain, Cynthia Konadu Ankobea believes with the squad she has, they can retain the title won last year.
“We can win the title for the second time because have confidence and trust my players. We have 3 best batters and 4 best bowlers, so I decided to use my best batters first and we tried limiting the wides in the second innings, then we won the game. We have actually used this game to see our flaws, so the next game will be better.”
Wawasi Elites, Pomposo Royals and Royal Batters all have 2 points each, whereas Tutuka Queens, Central Divas and White Hawks would have to battle for their first 2 points on week 2.
The league continues with week two actions on of 22nd and 23rd of July, 2023. Meanwhile, Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) is calling on corporate bodies to come on board as title sponsors of the league, to drive its development agenda for greater international achievements in the future.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
